Columbia Public Schools Discuss Start Time Options

COLUMBIA - The Columbia Public School Board is in the beginning stages of making changes to bus routes and school starting times for the 2013 school year. The board will discuss new options for school start times at a meeting Monday night.

Christine King, the Vice President of the board, said the purpose of this meeting is strictly to discuss possible options and gain feedback.

The board will explain the possibility of a three tier system which includes the following:

One option is for elementary schools to start in the first tier, high schools to start in the second tier and middle schools to start in the third tier. Another option has the middle schools starting in the first tier, high schools starting in the second tier and elementary schools starting in the third tier. Both options would have the high schools in the second tier.

The current start time for the high schools is 7:45a.m., the middle schools start at 8a.m. and the elementary schools start at 8:45a.m.

"The problem with every option is that some people are happy with certain options and certain people are unhappy. No matter, what not everyone is going to be content," King said.

The dicussion is still at the committee level and the Ad Hoc Transportation Committee will meet again in January. Following that meeting the school board will meet again and there will be a vote in Feburary.